How Virtual Reality Is Changing The Gaming Market

Ever since its launch onto the general mass market, it has been clear that Virtual Reality headsets are due to completely change the world as we know it. More and more people are finding ways to get their hands on these headsets so they can throw themselves into a new world. However, the scope of VR goes well-beyond traditional gaming methods. Let’s take a look at some of the places we can expect VR to help us reach new heights.

Traditional Gaming

When we think of VR Gaming, there is little doubt that we think of some of the games which have made this genre so great. New titles like Beat Saber and Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes plus ports of beloved worlds like Fallout 4 and Skyrim have created a healthy fanbase of people keen to explore everything VR has to offer. Whether they are experiencing the games themselves or watching their favourite YouTubers, there are many ways they can see what they could do in VR.

These games are great but they are currently limited. Beat Saber and Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes are fantastic games but they only have a few options you can run through before you have really reached the limits of the game. Meanwhile, porting beloved favourites like Skyrim will always have its downfalls. This is forcing a game from a pre-VR era to now run in VR and there are some glaring downsides to this; despite us being able to fully feel immersed into the world of Tamriel for the first time.

How is VR Changing?

The next step logically is a game which combines both into something new; a wholly immersive RPG game designed for VR play from the beginning. We are beginning to see such titles appear on the market for these games from indie developers and it will be interesting to see what first emerges from the workshops of some of the big game companies. With plenty of great VR releases due for 2019, we can’t wait to see what is coming next.

However, these are not the only games which are receiving the Virtual Reality treatment. We are also beginning to see expansions into areas usually overlooked by the traditional gaming world; like slots and bingo.

Slot Games

NetENT, one of the biggest slots and table games developers on the market, announced in early 2017 that they were working on a VR version of one of their most popular games; Gonzo’s Quest. Based on the adventures of a Conquistador searching for El Dorado, it has remained high up the list of most-loved slot games out there thanks to its memorable characters and game-changing Avalanche feature. They were able to launch the VR adaptation in the summer of 2018 to great critical acclaim.

The VR update places the player directly into the world of the game. The reels are directly in front of you and all you need to do to see the paytable is turn your head. It makes for a fully immersive experience; exactly what VR is all about.

Bingo

Bingo is no longer the game that your gran loves to play in the afternoons. The much-loved game is attracting plenty of young players thanks to the rise in popularity of bingo sites. You no longer have to run down to your local hall for a game or two, instead all you need to do is camp out on your sofa with a laptop, phone, tablet, and now a VR headset.

There are a whole host of websites which allow you to play bingo with a VR headset. This also creates a fully immersive experience where you can focus on the numbers, mark off your cards, and interact with other players through the chat function. With innovations coming left, right, and center, and players always on the hunt for something new, it probably won’t be long before we see the top 5 bingo sites looking into ways they can implement VR into their most-loved games.

This might also help to bring across new players from elsewhere. Players who have stuck to a traditional gaming background might decide to check out the bingo games for something new to play. VR is capable of crossing genres in this way whereas other previous innovations have not.

Final Thoughts

There is no doubt about it; VR is most definitely here to stay. It offers some unforgettable gaming experiences which appeal to the mass gaming market. The more popular it grows, the more affordable the equipment will become. When this happens, it is likely that we will see an increase in alternative games like bingo and slots appearing for the new market to enjoy.

Just as the games console revolutionised the industry, it appears that VR is doing the same. Anyone interested in observing the way the gaming industry is evolving need only watch the progress of VR. Before long we will be able to dive into any world we choose to play any game we can imagine. The future is most definitely virtual.